The Prathamik Shikshak Sangh (PSS), which is the biggest teacher organisation of the State, has threatened to start an agitation if the State Government continues to ignore its demands. The office- bearers of the central committee of PSS met recently in the State capital and the mood in the organisation was that of confrontation.
The general secretary of the PSS, Digvijay Singh told The Pioneer that a delegation of the association would meet State Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Wednesday. He said that the PSS is feeling alienated by the education department as nothing has happened on its major demands in the last one and a half years. “We have held various rounds of talks with all the senior officers of the education department but nothing has happened,’’ he said.
The organisation demands removal of pay disparity of primary teacher vis-a-vis other teachers, implementation of Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme and resolving the issue of upgraded schools. The leaders of the organisation blame the financial controller of the department for deliberately blocking every decision which is taken in the favour of teachers. Singh said that the CM has assured the PSS in past that their problems would be looked into. He said that the association would be forced to launch an agitation from February if their demands are not accepted.
It is learnt that the working committee of the PSS is under pressure from elements within the organisation to perform on the major issues of teacher since the present leadership has failed to bring in desirable changes even though it is at helm from almost two years now.
The present leadership is edgy also as some of newly appointed teachers have formed their separate group as they allege that the PSS is not properly representing their cause. There are more than 24000 members in the PSS which makes it one of most powerful employee organisation of the State.